Utai - LC - Basic (BD41)

The Utai are one of the native species on Utapau. As the working class, they look after the dragon corrals and serve as ground crews on landing platforms. They live in the numerous sinkholes on the planet, taming the indigenous dactillions and varactyls.

Utapau
(the system) gets its name from
the two species that inhabit it. The Utai
and the Pau’an make up the population
of the sinkhole planetary system and interestingly
they are diametric opposites of each other
in the way they look and the roles they
serve on their planet. Both humanoid (but
on different levels), the Pau’ans
are much taller and much more mysterious.
Although the two species get along quite
well, there is an understood hierarchy
of who is technically in charge (the Pau’ans).
The Utai are the Prequel equivalent of
the Ugnaughts. They are short, some are
rotund and all are laborers that seem to
never question authority and perform their
duties flawlessly without issues. And they
appear quite eager to serve as required
for the good of their society. They are
very mechanical creatures and love interacting
with technology as well as organic objects,
like wrangling bogas for example. It was
only a matter of time before this character
would get its day as an action figure and
it comes to us four years later in the
basic figure line. Trivia lovers will want
to know that the Utai figure now available
was intended to be released as a two-pack
but that was rather quickly shelved (as
many other two-packs have been). Fans have
been clamoring for the second to be released
as a running change, but as of right now,
the second version has yet to find a place
in the basic figure line. It seems as if
Hasbro is testing the waters on this figure
to see if a second figure is worthy enough
to be placed in the line as well. By the
looks of the first figure, we immediately
say it is, but unfortunately Hasbro needs
to see sell-through to answer the question.
We very much hope it gets released one
day because the two are very different
from each other and we love to have diversity
in our displays and dioramas. And it is
also a remarkable figure.

If
you like the Utai character from Revenge
Of The Sith, then you are simply
going to love the action figure! Faithfully
and expertly recreated from Episode III,
we are simply amazed by how authentic the
small action figure looks when compared
to the character’s appearance in
the film. Risking to not be one of the
best selling figures in the Legacy
Collection since the Utai is
clearly not a main character by any mean,
we find this to be a small travesty because
we believe you will be impressed with the
level of detail this smaller than average
action figure has. We acknowledge that
many will miss out on this figure by skipping
it. Sporting a nice 14 points of articulation,
the Utai can be posed pretty much any way
you want him. He has a rather static pose,
save for what is appears to be his right
foot stepping forward the tiniest bit and
we love getting figures that aren’t
in an action pose. So this figures scores
high here! Hasbro paid a great deal of
attention to so many areas on this character
and for that we are simply impressed. The
Utai’s skin color is so well done.
It is colored in a pinkish beige hue with
a dark wash that captures every wrinkle
in the skin (especially in the neck area)
and the same treatment was replicated for
its hands and head. The Utai have hooves
for feet and this detail can be seen through
his boots and it looks fantastic. Perhaps
the most incredible part of this action
figure is its eyes. Decorated exactly like
what we saw in the film, the duplication
of this specie’s unique eye form
into an action figure is no small feat.
To mass produce this detail is something
we are not able to fully comprehend. It
is that well done and we are extremely
grateful for the time Hasbro has given
it. His jumpsuit costume is cast in the
military green as seen in the film and
has details painted in silver that help
make it feel more realistic. There is a
tube that is attached to the center of
his chest and reaches around to his side.
Almost having a starfighter pilot feel
to it, it is a great detail that we floored
that it has been molded as a separate part
and not simply painted on the figure.

If
you aren’t a fan of Episode III,
this figure will likely do absolutely nothing
for you. But if you are, we can say that
this is one of the freshest and nicest
action figures based on a character for
this film in a very long time. Revenge
of The Sith has received more
than its fair share of attention by Hasbro.
In fact, aside from A
New Hope, it is probably true
that most of the action figures released
by them are from this source now. (This
is mere conjecture and we haven’t
done the official math yet.) So for Hasbro
to come up with such a quality and neat
figure at this point is a pretty great
thing. The Utai holds its own as a very
well sculpted, excellently painted and
perfectly scaled action figure. It will
aid in rounding out your Utapau displays
and if you are a fan of the 212th Attack
Battalion, this is a character you are
going to have to protect against the Separatist
Droid Army! We hope that the other version
of the Utai does get released one day to
keep this one company. While it may not
be one of the most exciting or action packed
figure you will add to your collection,
it keeps in the spirit of the random and
obscure characters getting treated into
action figure form. We hope this trend
continues for a while. It would be tragic
to only see Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker
on the pegs. Characters like the Utai will
ensure that this doesn’t happen.
But don’t look at the Utai as just
a figure that is different than Luke or
Vader. He is excellent and worthy of your
consideration on his own merits alone.
But it does certainly keep the basic line
healthy if collectors like you and us add
him to our collections. We encourage you
to give the Utai a chance. He is a cool
little creature that will absolutely enhance
your collection is an extremely positive
way.